Newest Lakers player Kendall Marshall already in uniform

In what signifies their desperation toward their depleting roster, the Lakers suited up Kendall Marshall on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center a day after acquiring him.

Marshall learned of the Lakers’ interest while staying in a hotel room Thursday in Texas, where he getting ready to play for the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Developmental League against the Austin Toros. On Friday, Marshall arrived in time for the morning shootaround, where he introduced himself to teammates and learned basic sets regarding Mike D’Antoni’s system.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Marshall said. “I’ve kind of seen some of the down sides of the league as well as some of the good sides. But I’m more aware now. I’m more grateful. Humbled by the opportunity.”

The Phoenix Suns drafted Marshall with the 13th pick out of the 2012 NBA Draft, but he averaged only three points and three assists in 48 games last season. The Suns traded him as part of a larger deal in October to Washington, which immediately waived him. But with long-term injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve issues in back), Steve Blake (torn ligament in right elbow) and Jordan Farmar (strained left hamstring), the Lakers signed Marshall to a non-guaranteed deal.

“Part of it could’ve been me. Part of it could’ve been the organization,” Marshall said. “Part of it could’ve been just the way basketball works. I can’t blame anybody for the way it happened.”

The Lakers signed Marshall partly because of his familiarity with D’Antoni’s offense stemmed from the one former Suns coach Alvin Gentry incorporated. Gentry worked on D’Antoni’s staff when he coached Phoenix from 2003-2008.

Hands-on approach

Blake has returned to the court and performed plenty of drills that made him such a playmaking threat with the offense.

Blake drives to the basket. He works on pick-and-rolls. Blake shoots floaters. He attempts reverse layups.

There’s only one caveat, though.

“I pretty much do everything,” Blake told this newspaper. “But I just use my left hand.”

Such is life for the veteran who remains sidelined for at least five more weeks because of a hyperextended right elbow. Blake spent the past week mostly resting and then fitting in the aforementioned drills in private workouts.

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But Blake estimated he remained “two or three weeks” away from increasing his workload. It also appears he’s nowhere close toward using his right arm.

“It hurts too much to bend,” Blake said before entering the trainer’s room to receive a new brace to support it.

Waiting game

Considering the Lakers will re-examine his strained left hamstring on Dec. 24, guard Jordan Farmar maintained it’s still possible he could play when the Lakers host the Miami Heat on Christmas Day at Staples Center.

“I don’t want to risk anything,” said Farmar, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.4 assists before missing the past nine games. “It’ll be good for me in the long run to be right before I get out there.”